The iPhone 5 is an outstanding device. Even though nearly a year has passed since it
got launched, Apple's finest still ranks among the top smartphones out there,
loved by millions of owners worldwide. That is why a comparison like this is
inevitable – a comparison between the newly-announced Sony Xperia Z1 and the tried and trusty iPhone 5. Can a 12-month-old handset
rival an upcoming phone? Well, let's take a look.
Design
In terms of appearance, both smartphones have a lot to
impress with. We'd say that the two look and feel equally great, which comes as
no surprise since the Sony Xperia Z1 and the iPhone 5 are put together with
utmost attention to detail. The premium materials used in their construction
only adds to their high-end feel. Sony has chosen to use tempered glass for the
Z1's back panel while the iPhone 5 is made of anodized aluminum. What sets
these smartphones apart, however, is their size. In all honesty, the Xperia Z1
feels a bit bulky, partially due to its rectangular shape, but at least we know
it is waterproof. The iPhone 5, on the other hand, is a lot more compact and
perfectly usable with a single hand. It does, however, come with a smaller
screen. Speaking of which...
Display
The iPhone 5 has a 4-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution
of 640 by 1136 pixels. But on paper, the Sony Xperia Z1 seems a lot more
exciting with its 5-inch Triluminos display and resolution of 1080 by 1920
pixels. And that's true for the most part since the Z1's screen is definitely
more detailed than the iPhone's. However, it doesn't seem to reach the latter's
level of color accuracy. Not that the Sony Xperia Z1 display is bad at
producing colors. Quite the opposite, the smartphone's color reproduction is
great, but it just could have been a bit better.
Interface
Android 4.2 – that's what runs on the Sony Xperia Z1,
hopefully to be substituted by a newer version in the near future. The iPhone 5
comes running iOS 6 out of the box, with an update to iOS 7 promised for this
fall. These two operating systems might seem similar at a glance, but
fundamentally, they are quite different. Since it runs Android, the Sony Xperia
Z1 is a lot easier to hack personalize and would run a wider selection of free
software available from Google's play store. The iPhone 5, on the other hand,
has access to higher-quality apps, and while its UI lacks flexibility, every
user can get the hang of its interface as it is made in a simple, intuitive
manner.
Processor and memory
We can probably write a dozen paragraphs, explaining how
much faster the Sony Xperia Z1's Snapdragon 800 SoC is when compared to the A6
chip in the iPhone 5. However, that's something we won't do as it would pretty
pointless. The fact of the matter is that both smartphones deliver silky-smooth
performance no matter what they are being used for.
The Sony Xperia Z1 will come with either 16 or 32GB of
storage. Same options are available for the iPhone 5 as well, but an additional
64GB is also on sale despite being priced a bit steeply. Yet ultimately, the
Xperia Z1 has the upper hand when it comes to storage. You see, there's a
microSD card slot on board, meaning that the user may add up to 64GB extra for
all their files and software.
Camera
Here's where it gets interesting. Many of our previous tests
show that the iPhone 5 packs a great 8MP camera, but at the end of the day, the
Sony Xperia Z1 may turn out to be a better shooter. The maker of the latter has
borrowed "G Lens" technology straight from its digital cameras and
adapted it for smartphone use. And since it has 20.7 megapixels of resolution
on a sensor that is 1/2.3 in size, the Xperia Z1 could possibly snap more
detailed photos, both during the day and during the night. Eventually, we'll
give their cameras a try, and if the Sony Xperia Z1 turns out to be better in
the camera department, then we won't be that surprised.
Expectations
The Sony Xperia Z1 and the iPhone 5 are outstanding
smartphones, but each of them excels in its own way. The Sony Xperia Z1, for
example, is what we'd probably pick for multimedia consumption and capturing.
It is also water-resistant, which is a perk only a few high-end smartphones can
offer. With the iPhone 5, however, one can expect a smoother user experience.
Moreover, Apple's smartphone is the better option if you're demanding a
compact, yet premium device that is as rich in features as a modern smartphone
should be. Ultimately, it looks like it will be up to each individual user to
decide which of these two would be the better pick.
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